CASSIDY Coventry Blaze head coach Paul Thompson says his team will find it tougher than ever to hang on to the bmibaby Elite League championship.

Thompson steered Blaze to their second title in three years last season along with the Challenge Cup and Sheffield Steelers, Nottingham Panthers and Basingstoke Bison have been splashing the cash in a bid to end Coventry's dominance.

Basingstoke finished last season empty handed - being beaten in the play-off quarterfinals - and have brought in quality players such as Steve Thornton in a bid to compete.

Last season's play-off winners Nottingham have not won a league title for more than 50 years and have spent heavily in the last few weeks.

Although they lost the services of skipper David Clarke, Panthers have brought in Johan Molin from Manchester Phoenix and Great Britain international Mark Richardson from Cardiff Devils and last season's leading scorer Sean McAslan and PC Drouin are back in Nottingham.

Blaze and Panthers collide in the Charity Shield curtain-raiser at Planet Ice in Nottingham on September 5 - three days before the start of the bmibaby Elite League season - and Thompson says he expects Mike Ellis's team to be in the hunt for silverware.

He said: "It's going to be so tough next season.

"There's a lot of quality coming into the league and that's great for the fans.

"This will be the fifth year of the Elite League and it's going to be the best yet.

"Nottingham are desperate to win the league and it shows.

They've had some success with winning the play-offs last season and now they are really going for it.

"Sheffield have been spending a lot of money as well and so have Basingstoke.

"I only hope they can sustain the team they have put together.

"Edinburgh are going to be a different proposition as well next season. They've been a soft touch in the past, but have got a new coach and a new style of play."

Thompson has also been busy during the summer.

He has retained the majority of last season's double-winning squad and added Great Britain skipper Jonathan Weaver and Curtis Huppe from Belfast Giants.

Thompson hopes to make further additions before the pre-season programme gets under-way with a home game against Romford Raiders on August 29 before back-to-back games against Newcastle Vipers.

* FORMER Blaze player Andre Payette has agreed to return to Newcastle Vipers for a third season, the Canadian, 31 next month, saying: "In my three seasons in Britain, last year was the first time I hadn't won anything. I don't want another season without a trophy."